Sinister

"Paulo, how far?" ("Paulo, how was it?") A lady asked on phone calmly

"Amaka, e don red o." ("Amaka, it failed woefully".) Paulo replied soberly on the other end.

"How e take happen?" ("How did it happen?") she asked again this time impatiently.

"E be like say demon dey live for that house o. Poison, Bullet and Ghost don die o. I no sabi as I take reach house sef." ("I think a demon is in that house. Poison, Bullet and Ghost are dead. I don't even know how I got home.")

Paulo replied his voice cracking despite trying hard not to weep.

"Ghost is dead? My own Ghost?" Amaka asked in disbelief.

Amaka then ended the call and muffled the scream that's about to escape from her mouth. Ghost was her boyfriend and she was the one that gave the gang information about her cotenants. But she made sure to travel a week before the robbery happened, so no one will suspect her.

She tried stiffening her emotions for some minutes but she ended up shedding bitter tears.

"What could have gone wrong?" she thought aloud.

An idea crossed her mind and she smirked. She dialled the phone of one of her co-tenants, Alex.

"Alex, how far na? You no even call me ever since I travel." ("Alex, how are you? You didn't bother to ask after me since I travelled.")

"My babe, abeg, no vex. I dey busy gan. Come o, armed robbers come our compound. But, dem collect wotowoto. God catch dem. Dem just dey drop dey die".

("My babe, don't be annoyed. I was very busy. Lest I forget, armed robbers came to our compound but were seriously dealt with. They died mysteriously.")

Amaka clenched her teeth Alex jubilated over what happened.

" Fool!" she cursed under her breath.

"You say?" Alex asked.

"It serves them right. In their next life they won't try such again. God is really wonderful. It pays to be prayerful." she replied as she tried to sound genuine.

"It can only be God sha. But it was when they went to Jewel's place that they started dying. It might be a mere speculation. But we don't even care as long as our enemies were taken out." Alex replied chuckling.

"Wow! God is great!" Amaka exclaimed.

"Yes o. He is. Babe, I need to go now. I'll call you later." Alex said and ended the call.

"I now have a lead even though it might not be the right one. But it's better than nothing. Jewel, it'd better not be you. I never liked that girl. Her energy repels me." Amaka said repulsively while talking to herself and closed her eyes.

********

Inside Jewel's room, Olókun couldn't take his eyes off her still. Some moments ago, they were lost in each other's embrace and sharing mental love messages. Jewel however had to pee. Olókun however yearned for her warmth the more.

"I want you to take a break from work. I can give you all you need, my love. I don't want you to stress yourself due to your condition."

"I just love to work. I'll be fine, babe." Jewel replied.

"But you've peed severally today. I don't want further stress for you." he opined

" I can handle it, love." she replied and wrapped her hands around his neck.

"Ssshh..." he suddenly shushed

"What?" Jewel inquired.

Olókun put his finger on Jewel's right ear and she was able to hear an ongoing conversation audibly.

"Really?" a female voice said.

"Yes, my dear. It was Allah's doing. Myself and Aisha prayed for divine intervention and we got it." Haji replied.

"But the thieves met their waterloo at Jewel's place. She must be really prayerful too." Amaka persisted.

"Never underestimate the power of God. He works in mysterious. Let's just be grateful to him." Haji said.

"But, Haji, have you ever suspected Jewel to have diabolical powers?" Amaka stubbornly pressed on.

Haji let out a laugh at first and gave a sharp response.

"No. Please, my dear, we should all come together and praise God. Ours was a good testimony. Me, I love that lady called Jewel o. She's decent and hardworking. Please, let's not talk about her this way." Haji was beginning to feel irritated.

"Alright, Haji. Thanks for your time." Amaka said and ended the call.

As Jewel listened to the distant conversation through Olókun's aid, her eyes widened in shock as she sat on her bed.

"I thought I was helping them. Why will Amaka do this to me?" she asked.

"She's part of the gang. She's trouble and will do everything possible to defame you. You want her dead?" Olókun asked

"No. I want her to play herself. Killing her will only give her smooth passage to afterlife." Jewel replied with a smirk at the corners of her lips.

"That's my Queen. Now, where were we, lovebird?" He said, putting her in his embrace; dousing the looming tension.